August 2017 Newsletter

SFI IN BRIEF

Recent highlights from SFI

SFI Leads Three Habitat for Humanity Builds

Working with Habitat For Humanity Greater Ottawa (Habitat GO) SFI helped organize three builds across the area this month to support families in need of affordable housing. The builds, part of SFI's Indigenous Housing Program sponsorship, each had a different theme: a "Women in Wood" Build Day, an Indigenous Build Day and a Youth Build Day. Since 2008, the SFI community has donated countless volunteer hours and certified products to numerous Habitat for Humanity builds across Canada and the U.S.

Maine SFI Implementation Committee Makes Wishes Come True

This summer, the Maine SFI Implementation Committee teamed up with Make-A-Wish Maine to help some local children. Make-A-Wish Maine is dedicated to granting the wishes of children with serious, life-threatening conditions. Four-year-old Derek Wilson, who was diagnosed with leukemia almost three years ago, wished for a Ninja Turtle-themed playground. Kyan MacDonald, thirteen, requested his own tiny house. Kyan was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and is now in remission. The Maine SFI Implementation Committee donated the labor and materials for both projects.

New SFI Board Members Come Together to Enhance Community, Brand Owner and Youth Engagement

SFI welcomed two new officers and one new member to its Board of Directors: MarkRodgers, President and CEO for Habitat for Humanity Canada, as Board Chair; Guy Gleysteen, Senior Vice President of Time, Inc., as Vice Chair; and Laura Downey, Executive Director, Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education and Project Learning Tree (PLT) Education Operating Committee Co-Chair, as a new member in the social chamber. These new members will play a key role as SFI continues to enhance the sustainability of well-managed forests and the communities that depend on them across the U.S. and Canada.

Project Learning Tree Highlights

PLT's Forest Lessons in Action

Following an educator forestry tour, part of PLT's Summer Forestry Institutes for Teachers, high school teacher Susan Linscott in Maine has found ways to engage her students in studying real-world issues in their community. For example, she has worked with Maine Project Learning Tree, the Maine Forest Service, and Canadian provinces to understand the potential for another spruce budworm outbreak, and developed a unit to involve her students in this pressing issue. After forest managers and engineers explained the intricacies of Maine's thousands of culverts during her four-day tour of Maine's forests and mills, Linscott also developed a unit on stream crossings in which students analyze and design culverts for environmental safety and structural integrity. Read this story here.

Apply for a PLT GreenWorks! Grant

Schools, youth groups, nature centers, and other organizations are invited to apply for funds to help students design and implement projects to green their school or improve an aspect of their neighborhood's environment. Students can work with their school, local businesses or community organizations, and are provided opportunities for student leadership. Examples of projects include recycling programs, water and energy conservation initiatives, school gardens, outdoor classrooms, or forest improvement projects. Grants up to $1,000 are available. The deadline to apply is September 30.Learn more.

Structurlam Is First Canadian Cross-Laminated Timber Manufacturer to Earn SFI Chain-Of-Custody Certification

Structurlam is the first Canadian manufacturer of cross-laminated timber (CLT) to be certified to the SFI 2015-2019 Chain-of-Custody Standard. Structurlam has manufactured CLT for six years and supplied the product to over 350 projects in North America. Structurlam will be able to use chain-of-custody certification to position itself as a supplier in the green building market that is officially recognized by green building rating systems.

Making the Grade in Sustainable Forestry

A&A Trading Ltd. (A&A), a family-owned, SFI certified forestry company with operations on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, is working with local hikers to change the way people think about the forest industry.

A&A has installed informational signs along hiking trails that explain the connection between sustainable forest management and recreation, reforestation strategies, the economic benefits of forest management, and the wildlife tree retention patches that are reserved for wildlife and biodiversity values. Read more about this project on TreeHugger.

SFI Annual Conference - Hotel Room Block Closes Soon

This year's conference theme - Forests. A Way of Life. - highlights how we all depend on forests whether we are harvesting professionals, landowners, forest managers, producers, customers, Indigenous peoples, conservation and community partners, academics, or individuals using forests for recreation.

Act fast:reserve your hotel room at the Westin Ottawa before the extended August 31 cutoff date to receive a $249 rate. Rate and space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and may sell out before the August 31 cutoff.

Due to heavy demand at the Westin, we also secured an overflow hotel room block at the nearby Andaz Ottawa Byward Market. If you are unable to reserve a room at the Westin Ottawa, click here to make reservations at the Andaz by September 5.

Get Social with SFI

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As we continue to grow, we are excited to share not only SFI's stories but the SFI community's news as well! Please take a few minutes to tweet and post your thoughts or send us your stories so we can share them for you:

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